Title
THEODORE KUSCHEL FAMILY
Creator
Norma Kuschel Schaar
Coverage
TOWNSHIP 141N RANGE 91W
Text
THEODORE KUSCHEL FAMILY
Theodore F. Kuschel, my father arrived in Farmers Valley township, Stark County, Feb. 16, 1915 to work for Fred J. Schmalenberger for $40 a month. “Farms were too far apart and wide open, ” Theo said, was the reason he returned in December to his native state, Missouri. He was born to Frank and Mathilda Apel Kuschel May 26, 1891 at Stolpe, Missouri. While being employed for $18 a month in Missouri a telegram arrived with a $40 a month job offer with Louis Rehm. He arrived in Hebron by Northern Pacific Railroad in Feb. 1916, this time determined to make North Dakota his home.
Ida Krueger, my mother, was born Nov. 13, 1890 to Wilhelm and Maria Ruske Krueger at Poi Sippi, Wis. In the spring of 1892 she came from Wisconsin with her parents and brother Karl. Her father built their two room home of wood brought from Wisconsin. This home was on Section 4, township 140, range 91. Her grandparents, Karl and Louisa JudeJohn Krueger and their son Ernest, also came at this time, making their home in a sod house on Karl's place on section 26, township 141, range 91. Ida attended rural school located several miles south until she was through the third reader. Then she was needed at home to help her mother care for the younger sisters. When their parents retired and moved to Hebron, Karl, Ida and Anna tended to the farming until Karl married Mary Tollefson Feb. 16, 1915. This afforded Ida and her sister Anna the opportunity to cook for a family and workers on the bonanza farm of George Rasmussen at Dazey, N.D. in Barnes County.
My parents Theodore Franz Kuschel and Ida Louisa Mathilda Krueger were married by Rev. August Debus at St. Johannes Church Dec. 4, 1917. Thirty below zero was the temperature the next day when they arrived thirteen and one half miles northwest of Hebron on the Ernest Krueger farm on section 26, township 141, range 91, which they had rented from Ernest's widow, Christina.
In 1921 they bought a portion of Ida's parents, the William Kruegers land, and built a farmstead eleven and one half miles northwest of Hebron northeast one fourth of Section 35, township 141, range 91, in Farmers Valley Township. They built a house with attached garage with tile from the Hebron Brick Company. Other buildings were made of wood. Also there were straw sheds made of wood, woven wire and straw and used for barns. They dug a well twenty feet deep and lined it with bricks and cement. (This well is still used by Ervin Krueger). This farm was improved upon throughout the years by planting trees, building barns and granaries, all done by hard work and sweat also the hardships, satisfaction and happiness.
Karl Krueger, John Geisler, Christ Stickle and Theo. Kuschel had a “threshing rig”' consisting of a grain separator and Hart Paar tractor, in partnership. Later Theo, bought out the partners and with Eric Eggert as engineer, continued to thresh for the neighbors until the coming of the combine. He bought a six foot John Deere combine Aug. 6, 1946 for combining wheat, but the oats and barley were threshed each year for several years more.
One hot night we were alerted by the telephone at midnight about the prairie fire east of our place. Neighbors and men from Hebron fought the blaze with gunny sacks soaked in water, back fires lit, and fire guards were plowed to get the fire extinguished. Men had worked in the hayfield during the day, so it was thought that the fire had started from a smoldering cigarette.
Four children were born to Theo. and Ida Kuschel: Norma in 1919, a stillborn son in 1922, Alvin in 1923 and Richard in 1926. After the death of Ida's sister. Martha Krueger Reetz, in May 1928 two of Martha's six children, Marvin and Ardella Reetz made their home with Theo. and Ida for six years.
Norma taught school for four years before her marriage Dec. 4, 1942 to Robert Schaar of Scranton, where they make their home. They have six children: Robert Theodore, an engineer, married to Sandra Sciortino (they have Amy and Andrew); Lewis, an electrician married to Bonnie Paschke (they have two sons, David and Paul); William, on the family farm; Cheryl, a secretary married to Glen Wolf, (they have two sons, Kurt and Chad); Jerome and Neil, attending NDSU at Fargo.
Alvin served during World War II in the South Pacific, with the navy. He married Charlotte Benfit June 5, 1948. They operated his parents, Theo. and Ida's farm 1951-1956. Then Alvin obtained his bachelor of science degree from Dickinson State College in 1959. He taught math and shop at Taylor several years, and is now teaching algebra at Williston High School. His wife Charlotte is a secretary at Williston. Their daughter Sandra graduated from Trinity Nursing at Minot and is a registered nurse at Deaconess Hospital, Billings, Mont. David, a graduate of Minot State College is a loan officer at Williston. Kathleen is attending Minot State College.
Richard served his two year hitch in the army (after Alvin returned from the navy), then helped his parents on the farm. He married Florence Kepplin June 30, 1949 and they lived on the farm until the fall of 1950. Richard received the degree in graphic arts from the State School of Science, Wahpeton, N.D. and worked in the composing room of newspapers at Williston, Minot, and at Medford, Oreg. since 1956. His wife Florence is a kindergarten teacher. Their son, Rodney, after four years in the air force is attending college; Nancy has an associate degree in secretarial work, and is working as a secretary. Judy is attending college and Scott is attending sixth grade classes.
Theo. and Ida Kuschel moved into their home in Hebron in the fall of 1951. Alvin and Charlotte took over the farming interests at that time. Theo. helped with carpenter work, mixed mud for bricklayers, and refinished furniture until ill health forced him into complete retirement in October 1968. Ida kept busy with her gardening and flowers, quilting, rug making, and took care of my dad, Theo. after he became ill.
The fall of 1966 Theo. and Ida sold their farm to their nephew, Ervin Krueger and his wife, Emma. This land had originally been part of the Wilhelm and Maria Krueger's (Ervin's grandparents) farm.
St. Johannes church bells were ringing when Theo. Kuschel first stepped off the train in Hebron Feb. 16, 1915 (for the wedding of Karl Krueger and Mary Tollefson). These bells were also rung for the wedding of Theo. and Ida Dec. 4, 1917. Before the ringing of these bells had been done electrically, Theo. climbed three flights of stairs to ring the bells on many a Sunday. Then on April 29, 1977 these same bells tolled as my father, Theo. Kuschel was laid to rest in St. John's Cemetery, where his son and other relatives have been buried.
By Norma Kuschel Schaar
Theodore F. Kuschel, my father arrived in Farmers Valley township, Stark County, Feb. 16, 1915 to work for Fred J. Schmalenberger for $40 a month. “Farms were too far apart and wide open, ” Theo said, was the reason he returned in December to his native state, Missouri. He was born to Frank and Mathilda Apel Kuschel May 26, 1891 at Stolpe, Missouri. While being employed for $18 a month in Missouri a telegram arrived with a $40 a month job offer with Louis Rehm. He arrived in Hebron by Northern Pacific Railroad in Feb. 1916, this time determined to make North Dakota his home.
Ida Krueger, my mother, was born Nov. 13, 1890 to Wilhelm and Maria Ruske Krueger at Poi Sippi, Wis. In the spring of 1892 she came from Wisconsin with her parents and brother Karl. Her father built their two room home of wood brought from Wisconsin. This home was on Section 4, township 140, range 91. Her grandparents, Karl and Louisa JudeJohn Krueger and their son Ernest, also came at this time, making their home in a sod house on Karl's place on section 26, township 141, range 91. Ida attended rural school located several miles south until she was through the third reader. Then she was needed at home to help her mother care for the younger sisters. When their parents retired and moved to Hebron, Karl, Ida and Anna tended to the farming until Karl married Mary Tollefson Feb. 16, 1915. This afforded Ida and her sister Anna the opportunity to cook for a family and workers on the bonanza farm of George Rasmussen at Dazey, N.D. in Barnes County.
My parents Theodore Franz Kuschel and Ida Louisa Mathilda Krueger were married by Rev. August Debus at St. Johannes Church Dec. 4, 1917. Thirty below zero was the temperature the next day when they arrived thirteen and one half miles northwest of Hebron on the Ernest Krueger farm on section 26, township 141, range 91, which they had rented from Ernest's widow, Christina.
In 1921 they bought a portion of Ida's parents, the William Kruegers land, and built a farmstead eleven and one half miles northwest of Hebron northeast one fourth of Section 35, township 141, range 91, in Farmers Valley Township. They built a house with attached garage with tile from the Hebron Brick Company. Other buildings were made of wood. Also there were straw sheds made of wood, woven wire and straw and used for barns. They dug a well twenty feet deep and lined it with bricks and cement. (This well is still used by Ervin Krueger). This farm was improved upon throughout the years by planting trees, building barns and granaries, all done by hard work and sweat also the hardships, satisfaction and happiness.
Karl Krueger, John Geisler, Christ Stickle and Theo. Kuschel had a “threshing rig”' consisting of a grain separator and Hart Paar tractor, in partnership. Later Theo, bought out the partners and with Eric Eggert as engineer, continued to thresh for the neighbors until the coming of the combine. He bought a six foot John Deere combine Aug. 6, 1946 for combining wheat, but the oats and barley were threshed each year for several years more.
One hot night we were alerted by the telephone at midnight about the prairie fire east of our place. Neighbors and men from Hebron fought the blaze with gunny sacks soaked in water, back fires lit, and fire guards were plowed to get the fire extinguished. Men had worked in the hayfield during the day, so it was thought that the fire had started from a smoldering cigarette.
Four children were born to Theo. and Ida Kuschel: Norma in 1919, a stillborn son in 1922, Alvin in 1923 and Richard in 1926. After the death of Ida's sister. Martha Krueger Reetz, in May 1928 two of Martha's six children, Marvin and Ardella Reetz made their home with Theo. and Ida for six years.
Norma taught school for four years before her marriage Dec. 4, 1942 to Robert Schaar of Scranton, where they make their home. They have six children: Robert Theodore, an engineer, married to Sandra Sciortino (they have Amy and Andrew); Lewis, an electrician married to Bonnie Paschke (they have two sons, David and Paul); William, on the family farm; Cheryl, a secretary married to Glen Wolf, (they have two sons, Kurt and Chad); Jerome and Neil, attending NDSU at Fargo.
Alvin served during World War II in the South Pacific, with the navy. He married Charlotte Benfit June 5, 1948. They operated his parents, Theo. and Ida's farm 1951-1956. Then Alvin obtained his bachelor of science degree from Dickinson State College in 1959. He taught math and shop at Taylor several years, and is now teaching algebra at Williston High School. His wife Charlotte is a secretary at Williston. Their daughter Sandra graduated from Trinity Nursing at Minot and is a registered nurse at Deaconess Hospital, Billings, Mont. David, a graduate of Minot State College is a loan officer at Williston. Kathleen is attending Minot State College.
Richard served his two year hitch in the army (after Alvin returned from the navy), then helped his parents on the farm. He married Florence Kepplin June 30, 1949 and they lived on the farm until the fall of 1950. Richard received the degree in graphic arts from the State School of Science, Wahpeton, N.D. and worked in the composing room of newspapers at Williston, Minot, and at Medford, Oreg. since 1956. His wife Florence is a kindergarten teacher. Their son, Rodney, after four years in the air force is attending college; Nancy has an associate degree in secretarial work, and is working as a secretary. Judy is attending college and Scott is attending sixth grade classes.
Theo. and Ida Kuschel moved into their home in Hebron in the fall of 1951. Alvin and Charlotte took over the farming interests at that time. Theo. helped with carpenter work, mixed mud for bricklayers, and refinished furniture until ill health forced him into complete retirement in October 1968. Ida kept busy with her gardening and flowers, quilting, rug making, and took care of my dad, Theo. after he became ill.
The fall of 1966 Theo. and Ida sold their farm to their nephew, Ervin Krueger and his wife, Emma. This land had originally been part of the Wilhelm and Maria Krueger's (Ervin's grandparents) farm.
St. Johannes church bells were ringing when Theo. Kuschel first stepped off the train in Hebron Feb. 16, 1915 (for the wedding of Karl Krueger and Mary Tollefson). These bells were also rung for the wedding of Theo. and Ida Dec. 4, 1917. Before the ringing of these bells had been done electrically, Theo. climbed three flights of stairs to ring the bells on many a Sunday. Then on April 29, 1977 these same bells tolled as my father, Theo. Kuschel was laid to rest in St. John's Cemetery, where his son and other relatives have been buried.
By Norma Kuschel Schaar